Westime’s Greg Simonian on Watch Trend of the Moment: Start/Stop

President of Westime Greg Simonian reports on the latest watch trends in the industry. 

Perennially one of the most popular watch styles, chronographs deserve a place in every watch collection. Equipped with stopwatch timing functions that are capable of recording infinitesimal to vast periods of time, these are the watches for anyone tracking elapsed events. So the next time you find yourself betting on horses, waiting for your take-out to arrive, or beating your personal best at a charity run, any of these eight chronographs available at Westime boutiques in Southern California and Miami will help you get the timing right.

AUDEMARS PIGUET

Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph

Audemars Piguet created its sporty Royal Oak Offshore chronograph for men in 1993. This new version featuring a 37mm steel case, Lady Tapisserie engraved dial, slender indexes and diamond-set bezel give it an elegance that women appreciate. Functions include date, small seconds sub-dial, and chronograph with 30-minute and 12-hour counters.

BREGUET

Tradition Chronographe Independent 7077

The first thing you may notice about Breguet’s Tradition Chronographe Independente 7077 in 18K white gold is the unusual position of the chronograph pushers, located at 4 and 8 o’clock on the 44mm case. They complement the symmetry of the silvered dial. The hand-wound movement drives a power reserve indicator at 2 o’clock, a 20-minute counter at 10 o’clock, plus a chronograph hand fixed in the center of the watch.

BREITLING

Chronomat 44 Blacksteel Special Edition

The rugged black steel case of the 44mm Chronomat is the ideal companion to pilots worldwide. A yellow dial on this new limited edition provides ideal legibility in all situations. The Chronomat’s automatic movement features a 1/4^th second chronograph, 30-minute and 12-hour totalizers, and calendar function. Safety pushers help ensure complete water-resistance up to 200 meters.

CARL F. BUCHERER

Patravi TravelTec II

This large timepiece—47.4 mm in diameter—holds a host of useful functions. The combination of chronograph paired with three time zone indications is a rarity in the watch industry. The steel watch also features a sapphire window on its case side, allowing a unique glimpse of the automatic movement. Three chronograph subdials track elapsed hours, minutes and seconds.

CHOPARD

Grand Prix de Monaco Historique 2016

As official timekeeper and sponsor of this classic car race in Monaco since 2002, Chopard creates a new limited edition watch celebrating the event every year. The 2016 edition features a 44.5mm titanium case, and choice of grey Barenia leather or orange and grey NATO strap. The automatic movement powers a central chronograph seconds hand, small seconds, 30-minute and 12-hour counters, and date.

HUBLOT

Big Bang Unico Italia Independent

Style icon Lap Elkann teams up with Hublot for a second time to collaborate on an avant garde 200-piece limited edition timepiece. Blue camouflage printed on a veil of silk is laid on top of a case and bezel crafted from Texalium, resulting in a surprising “woodland” pattern. The 45mm case houses Hublot’s in-house Unico automatic movement, the force behind the 60-minute totalizer, running seconds subdial, and chronograph seconds hand fixed in the center of the dial.

RICHARD MILLE

RM 11-02 Automatic Flyback Chronograph Dual Time Zone Jet Black

The movement at the heart of the 88-piece limited edition Jet Black powers functions that are essential to the lifestyle of today’s traveler: annual calendar with oversize date, running seconds subdial, flyback chronograph with 60-minute countdown timer and 24-hour totalizer, centrally fixed chronograph seconds hand, and a second time zone via a red hand. The skeletonized automatic movement is housed inside a 50mm tonneau-shaped tripartite case crafted from NTPT carbon—a material exclusive in the watch industry to Richard Mille.

 TAG HEUER

Carrera Mikrograph Anniversary Edition

One hundred years ago, Heuer invented a chronograph movement capable of displaying 1/100^th of a second via a central hand. In celebration of that patented achievement, TAG is releasing the 100-piece limited edition Mikrograph. The 45mm steel timepiece features such retro details as a white lacquer dial and “mushroom” pushers. Functions arrayed around the dial include date, power reserve indicator, seconds counter at 3 o’clock, and 30-minute totalizer at 12 o’clock.